Figures show big December improvement in Royal Stoke A&E waiting times

There has been a big year on year improvement in December waiting times at the Royal Stoke University Hospital's A&E department.

During that month in 2017, only 59% of patients were seen within four hours of arrival.

But according to figures out today, it stood at 73% for last month.

It comes despite a rise in the number of attendances, with 15,225 turning up in December 2018 - compared with 13,524 for the same period the year before.

Bosses at the trust that runs the Royal Stoke and Stafford's County Hospital told Signal in the run up to Christmas they had put plans in plans in place to deal with an expected rise in demand during the winter months.

Provisions was made for an extra 170 beds both at the Royal Stoke and within the North Staffs community to help mitigate any sudden demand brought on by a serious dip in the temperature.

In addition a 'What's Your Emergency?' winter campaign has been running, to advise residents about how to take care of their health needs.